Bayern Munich vs Lazio prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-03-04 20:00.
In a topsy-turvy last Bundesliga outing, Bayern Munich trailed, led and ultimately drew 2-2 against Freiburg on Friday night, a result which places a huge question mark about whether the Bavarian giants can secure a 12th straight title. Perhaps they can attribute that poor showing to the fact they had this UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg tie on their mind, as Bayern find themselves in the unfamiliar position of facing elimination unless they can turn around a 1-0 reverse from the first leg against Lazio.
History would suggest they'll have their work cut out given they’ve been eliminated from 12 of their last 15 Champions League ties in which they’ve lost the away leg first. Don’t write Bayern off though, as they’ve won an impressive six games in a row at home against Serie A opposition, and given four of them came by a two-goal margin, they’ll be hoping to secure progression inside 90 minutes.
If it’s any consolation for Lazio, they were one of the two sides to only go down by a one-goal margin in that streak and they travel to Bavaria holding the aces in this tie. It’s just as well they do too, as Lazio have never won a Champions League game away in Germany in four attempts (D2, L2), but knowing a draw is all they need to advance here, that ought not to dishearten them too much.
In fact, if it’s a source of confidence Lazio are looking for, then they need look no further than their sensational record in European competition when winning the first leg of a knockout tie, advancing on 12 of the last 13 such occasions. If they can bolster that record in style with a victory, the Italian club would become the first side since Real Madrid in 2016/17 to win home and away against Bayern in a single Champions League campaign!
Players to watch: Bayern’s Leroy Sané has scored before the break on three of his four home scoring appearances this term, all of which ended in victory. A Ciro Immobile goal separates these two sides in the tie and he’s opened the scoring on his last three Champions League scoring appearances.
Hot stat: Nine of Bayern’s last ten Champions League games saw at least one goal scored after the 65th minute.